Govt urged to expedite peace process with DHD(J)

HAFLONG, Nov 28 – Demanding expeditious settlementof the demands of the Dima Halam Daogah (Jewel) as per the proposals for peace agreement submitted to the Government and the release of all jailed leaders of the DHD(J) including politicians and civilians associated with their struggle immediately from judicial custody in order to facilitate free and fair negotiations with the Government-appointed interlocutor and representatives for the NGOsand public representatives, the Dimasa Students’ Union organised a grand meeting and rally at the Town Committee Field (Lal field) Haflong on Thursday.


A meeting was also held with Kebaron Naiding, president, DSU in the chair at Lal field wherein representatives from almost all the frontline NGOs of Dima Hasao took part.

Attending the meeting Dethang Naiding, president, Jadikhe Naisho Hosom, the office body of the Dimasas, Samarjit Haflongbar, former CEM, DHAC, LK Nunisa, general secretary JNH, Rathindra Thaosen, president, ASDC, opined that for the all-round development of Dima Hasao district, the issue of DHD(J) should be solved immediately. David Dimasa, ‘home secretary’, DHD(J) and Daniel Dimasa, ‘deputy c-in-c’, DHD(J) assured all the people of the district of Dima Hasao that if their demands were fulfilled then all the people living in the district would be benefited. There will be no discrimination and everybody will enjoy the same rights as they have been since 1952.

Thousands of people participated in a procession from Lal field, marched upto Council rotary then back to the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Dima Hasao and submited amemorandum to the chairperson, UPA, Sonia Gandhi through the DC, Dima Hasao, requesting her for sympathetic action while enlisting their grievances and sufferings.


The memorandum stated that after years of armed struggle for safeguarding the socio-economic and political concerns and rights of the tribal people of the Dima Hasao District in Assam, the Dima Halam Daogah (Joel), an insurgent group operating mainly in the said district, came out for peace process after the Government gave them a positive signal for peaceful negotiated settlement of their demands and concerns.


It may be mentioned here that the DHD(J) was the first armed insurgent group in the North East India to have come out for peace process by surrendering its arms en-masse on October 2, 2009 at the Dima Hasao Sports Association playground, Haflong in the presence of Tarun Gogoi, Chief Minister of Assam. The general public of the Dima Hasao District had wholeheartedly welcomed the return of peace and hoped that there would be positive outcome in the peace process which would ultimately usher in an era of permanent peace, stability, development and progress in the district.

They highly appreciated the initiative taken by the UPA Government, particularly UnionHome Minister P Chidambaram for smooth passage of peace process by appointing P C Haldar as the interlocutor. Since then, there have been a series of informal talks between the DHD(J) leadership and PC Haldar, to discuss the various demands and concerns raised by the DHD(J). In the meantime, the DHD(J) has also submitted proposals for peace agreement to the Government for consideration and approval.

However, the peace process seems to be moving on slow pace which is baffling the rank and file of the DHD(J) in particular and the people of the Dima Hasao district in general. Moreover, since the top-rung of the DHD(J) leadership is in jail, how can the peace process be moved forward to its logical conclusion? It is argued. Before the final peacesettlement, it is imperative that the DHD(J) leadership should have few formal talks with the government to discuss and negotiate on the proposals for peace accord and hence,before the start of the formal talks, all top-rung of the DHD(J) leadership along with politicians and civilians associated with their struggle should be released from jail in order to facilitate free and fair negotiation with the Government appointed interlocutor and representatives for smooth sailing of the peace process as well as to have consensus with the community leaders, NGOs and public representatives before signing the final peace accord, the memorandum concluded.